Customer Reviews

Live in New York 2: Trio

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Do you like jazz? Rock? Great playing with passionate fire?

You've got it! But this one and you won't regret it. The recording is good and the songs are amazing (listen to "I shot the Sheriff" and you'll know what I'm talking about).

Jaco is (still) simply the best bass player in the whole world, and on this CD he's playing a fretted basss. His skills were untouched, despite the health problems he was facing in that period due to alcohol and drug addiction. From all CDs issued after this death, this and number 3 are the best.

I have most of the "Live In NYC" volumes, Trio or otherwise.
Regardless of the marginal recording quality-no electric bass player has EVER played this skillfully in a nightclub setting live.
The tune "I Shot the Sheriff" is a classic Jaco fireburst. It consists of the basic turnaround riff and 4 chords from beginning to end. But on the solo section-Jaco plays some of the fastest bursts of notes any bassist has dared without gimmicks and guess what? It's tasteful. Not speed metal jazz. Finally in a Trio, we can really hear what he is doing in a live setting.
Don't underestimate Hirum Bullock, just because he doesn't come out the loudest in the mix. I saw him on NBC wail away on the Cream song "White Room" with Jack Bruce, Joe Walsh and Omar Hakim. Bullock is not a loud player. (Now Joe Walsh on a Les Paul is a different story) Hiram is talented. He nails the melody of the "Dear Prudence", "I Shot The Sheriff", "Ode To Billy Joe" tunes as if a vocalist were articulating the voicing. Cissy Strut is a favorite-with an expanded solo section perfect for the form of a trio. The interplay between bass and guitar is more interwoven like a jazzy Clapton and Bruce piece, had Cream continued into a fusion format without Baker. Music is subjective, and many will have their own opinions-but I will tell you that the art of a trio (the power of 3) is perhaps the most under-estimated form of music today. You can hear what's going on and there is space to breathe. There are a series of "overtones" and harmonics going on, that you would not hear with a fourth instrument. Enjoy.

Several people are quick to dismiss the Live In New York series because of poor audio quality, poor playing, or both. This is not the case when it comes to volume 2.
The quality of the audio is fine, you can hear everything clearly and the audience never over powers the music. The balance is good and remains consistent throughout.
These albums were recorded near the end of Jaco's life, when his health and mental state were deteriorating. However, this recording captures some of Jaco's best playing. It is top-notch on every song.
The songs presented here are incredible. This is the best version of Teen Town I've ever heard. Continuum is hauntingly beautiful. I Shot the Sherif and Dear Prudence are both excellent as well.
In my opinion, this is the best of the Live in New York series.

When this CD came out, after Jaco's death, I realized my prayers were heard: Jaco playing with Bullock and Woody, in a live performance and with a set that comprises rock, jazz and pop music! The thrill is there, as well as the fire. Jaco had never been captured live so alive and free. They were having a lot of fun and sweeping other bands as they went through "Teen town", "I shot the sheriff" and many others, including a version of Jaco's "Three views of a secret" with Jaco providing the harmony on keyboards. The recording quality is the best of this postumous series, and the repertoire will please those who are not jazz fans, but enjoy good music and this genius bass player/composer that passed away so prematurely.

Why waste your money? This disc is terrible. Unless you have a morbid curiosity about Jaco's decline, then there's no reason to buy it. How many times do you want to hear him play the Barbary Coast lick? He repeats himself, scuffs up, his solos are tired and you've heard them all before anyways (and played so much better when he was in his prime). Jaco is a hollow version of his once amazing self--and someone was there to record it and then to sell it. How lovely. It's just sad to compare Teen Town from 8:30 to this one. Remember the beautiful Jaco and don't buy this disc.

Jaco...Hiram Bullock...Kenwood Dennard...man, what a trio. Makes all other (n'yuck n'yuck) "power trios" - and you know who I'm talking about here - all sound like teenaged boyz cranked up after listening to "Highway to Hell" or something equally mono-toned. With but one...well.."caveat": Jaco, sadly, was on his way out here, the booze, coke, and..."indiscretions" about to render him null and void. Oh, but the material: Ode To Billie Joe...I Shot The Sheriff...Continuum...his own Teen Town...even Wipe Out. If Jaco was going out, you can bet your bootie that he truly was NOT "going gentle into that good night." The only thing: why would you pay a bill and a half for this CD when the whole concert is available for less than 5 bucks if you just go searching out without any great effort at all. Jaco, you are missed, man...

I really enjoyed this CD. Not only does it showcase the virtuosity of Jaco Pastorius, it also highlights the drumming talent of Kenwood Dennard and the impressive guitar work of Hiram Bullock. These guys work great together.
Although I enjoyed all the tracks on the CD, my favorite is the jazzed-up "I Shot the Sheriff" that features a very nice bass solo from Pastorius. I also liked the very mellow "Three Views of a Secret", which I found especially haunting.
Overall I found this CD to be a nice introduction to the genius of Jaco Pastorius. I'm already hungry for more of his music.

My bass teacher lent me this album so I could get familiar with Jaco's playing, and I love it! This and the Birthday Concert are the only albums I have. I love everything about this CD except for one thing. In "I Shot the Sheriff" there are 8 of the WORST cowbell hits I have ever heard in my life. I don't know what he was thinking!

Forget this whole series of releases-they only taint the image of Jaco that we should preserve-as the best there ever was!
I am certain Jaco's spinning around in his grave by the thought of this cd representing his playing skills.
The playing on here is drunken,loud,insensitive and generally resorts to being based on a very small bag of tricks of licks.And, oh yes-he's playing a fretted bass for more reasons than one!His chops are so depressingly low that the bright moments on this disc(very few and short to be sure)seem to occur during straight'rhythm section-playing'.
Choice of songs is desperate at best...
Listen to Bright Size Life,Trilogue-Live,Shadows and Light or his selftitled debut or even the Birthday Concert you want a clear image of who this guy was and why he will be the inspiration of genrations of musicians to come...
Stay away from this...no foolin'!

I'd only heard a little weather report (pre-jaco) and one jaco song (song for tracy) before I bought this album. I LOVE IT! "I Shot the Sheriff" is definitely NOT one of my favorite songs.. but I like to listen to their cover of it. "Teen Town" is a highlight, as are "Straight Life" and "Son of Creeper". I'm sure "Wipeout" is great as well, but haven't forced myself to listen to it yet.